Scottish Executive

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21522 by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 January 2002, why, if Hercepetin is currently supported by NHS Greater Glasgow and by other NHS boards across Scotland within locally agreed protocols and based on individual clinical assessments, NHS Lothian makes funds available on a case-by-case basis when requested by the treating centre and NHS Greater Glasgow does not.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for individual NHS boards.

Cities

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20704 by Iain Gray on 28 January 2002, how many private meetings the Minister for Social Justice has had with local authorities regarding its Cities Review.

Iain Gray: I have had three meetings with local authorities on the Cities Review: one with Glasgow City Council; one with the local authorities neighbouring Glasgow, and one with the local authorities neighbouring Edinburgh.

Cities

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20704 by Iain Gray on 28 January 2002, whether it will give details of any (a) private and (b) public meetings that have been held with representatives of City of Edinburgh Council regarding the Cities Review.

Iain Gray: The Review Team have met privately with the City of Edinburgh Council on three occasions and ministers have met privately with the council on two occasions. Ministers also attended meetings with the City Partnership and with an invited audience of local interest at both of which the City Council was present.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21284 by Iain Gray on 16 January 2002, how many local champions it now has employed.

Iain Gray: There are eight (full-time equivalent) Digital Champions and one national manager for the Digital Champions programme employed by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of, and funded by, the Executive.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21263 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 January 2002, what projects it is currently piloting which are using new technology in order to increase online consultation.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is increasing its use of electronic methods to engage the public in consultation. The Scottish Executive website is being redesigned to improve e-consultation opportunities, and more Scottish Executive consultations are using electronic discussion fora (for example in the current, "Blue Badge Parking Scheme" and on the "Getting Involved in Planning" exercise). In particular, e-mail software is soon to be applied to the regular distribution of consultation documents to those who subscribe to a consultation distribution list.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21276 by Iain Gray on 16 January 2002, what qualities and qualifications a Digital Champion needs to possess.

Iain Gray: The advertisement for the Digital Champion posts stated the requirements as follows:

  A Degree qualification in a related discipline, for example IT, preferably allied to a relevant post graduate qualification. You will have at least four years experience in a related field such as ICT project management, or training provision including the sourcing and securing of external funding or private sector sponsorship. You may also have experience of community-based education projects, including strategic experience of community learning strategies. Your high level of information technology awareness will be allied to your solid communication skills and ability to work on your own initiative. You will have a strong desire to make a difference and to serve the needs of the community in Scotland.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21287 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 January 2002, when the Accessing Telecoms Links Across Scotland project by Scottish Enterprise will be completed.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise launched phase 1 of the Accessing Telecoms Links Across Scotland project (ATLAS) on 4 February 2002. The project has the aim of substantially cutting high bandwidth telecoms costs for Scottish businesses. Phase 1 of Project ATLAS will be operational by the end of this year.

Drug Misuse

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 from abusing butane gas, broken down by age group.

Dr Richard Simpson: The available information is given in the follow table.

  


Deaths from butane abuse, Scotland 
  



Age Group 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



15-19 
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  

- 
  



20-24 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1 
  



25-29 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  



  1999-99: ICD9 code 3046, with a mention of butane.

  2000: ICD10 code F182, with a mention of butane.

  Note: International Classification of Diseases, underlying cause of death codes selected.

Drug Misuse

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the long-term trends are in the level of solvent abuse, broken down by age group.

Dr Richard Simpson: In March 1999, as part of its survey into Health Behaviours of Scottish Schoolchildren , the Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change, University of Edinburgh Medical School published a report on Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use in the 1990s . The report showed that among the 13-year-old schoolchildren surveyed, 10.3% in 1998 had ever used glue/solvents, compared to 9.2% in 1994. Among the 15-year-old age group, the figures were 15.2% in 1998 compared to 20% in 1994. The report also indicated that in 1998, 15.7% of 13-year-olds who had ever used drugs claimed to have used glue/solvents in the four weeks prior to the survey, compared to 16.2% in 1994. For the 15-year-olds, the figures were 6.1% in 1998 and 11.1% in 1994. Statistics for other age groups are not held centrally.

  According to statistics provided by St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, there were eight volatile substance abuse-related deaths in Scotland in 1999 (the most recent year for which data is available). This represented a small decrease from the total of 10 deaths recorded in 1998, and continued the downward trend since the figure of 21 deaths in 1991.

  Levels of solvent abuse will be monitored through a bi-annual survey of Scottish schools, funded by the Executive, of adolescent lifestyles and substance use.

Drug Misuse

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were treated by the NHS in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 as a result of solvent abuse, broken down by age group.

Dr Richard Simpson: The information presented in tables 1 and 2 shows the number of discharges from general acute hospitals and psychiatric hospitals where a diagnosis involving solvent abuse was recorded for the years 1997-2001, by age group.

  The figures show numbers of discharges, not numbers of individual patients. A patient may undergo multiple admissions and discharges.

  Treatment services are also provided by a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies.

  Table 1: General acute admissions with a discharge diagnosis of solvent abuse1: years ending 31 March 1997 to 2001

  


Age2


1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001P




Total all ages 
  

30 
  

24 
  

35 
  

39 
  

25 
  



under 15 years 
  

7 
  

7 
  

6 
  

9 
  

4 
  



15-19 years 
  

9 
  

6 
  

7 
  

10 
  

10 
  



20-24 years 
  

2 
  

3 
  

7 
  

4 
  

3 
  



25-29 years 
  

5 
  

3 
  

6 
  

4 
  

- 
  



30-34 years 
  

4 
  

- 
  

4 
  

8 
  

6 
  



35-39 years 
  

1 
  

4 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1 
  



40 years and over 
  

2 
  

1 
  

4 
  

1 
  

1 
  



  P Provisional.

  Table 2: Psychiatric inpatient discharges with a discharge diagnosis of solvent abuse1: years ending 31 March 1997 to 2001

  


Age2


1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001P




Total all ages 
  

8 
  

16 
  

7 
  

9 
  

8 
  



under 15 years 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



15-19 years 
  

2 
  

3 
  

- 
  

2 
  

2 
  



20-24 years 
  

1 
  

2 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  



25-29 years 
  

1 
  

4 
  

- 
  

2 
  

- 
  



30-34 years 
  

- 
  

4 
  

4 
  

1 
  

4 
  



35-39 years 
  

3 
  

2 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  



40 years and over 
  

1 
  

1 
  

- 
  

2 
  

- 
  



  P Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. Any mention at discharge of International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code F18 "Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of volatile solvents".

  2. Age at discharge.

Drug Misuse

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 on measures to inform young people of the dangers of solvent abuse.

Dr Richard Simpson: Details of total expenditure on informing young people of the dangers of solvent abuse are not held centrally. However, organisations supported by the Executive produce materials which address the risks of solvents. For example, in 2000, the Scottish Drugs Forum and the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) collaborated with others to publish Volatile Substance Abuse - Guidance for Professionals , produced in support of new legislation which prohibits the sale of butane gas lighter refills to under 18s. Scotland Against Drugs (SAD) and HEBS produced the booklet The Facts of Drugs - a Parent's Guide , which includes a section on volatile substances. SAD's publication, Drugs - Know Your Stuff , also covers solvents.

  In addition, the Executive contributes towards the funding of the National Drugs Helpline, which responds to calls about solvent abuse as well as the misuse of drugs. The helpline also distributes some materials which give advice about solvents.

Drug Misuse

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures are in place in respect of rehabilitating solvent abusers.

Dr Richard Simpson: According to the 2000-01 Drug Action Team (DAT) Corporate Planning exercise, there are 99 drug agencies in Scotland which provide a solvent abuse service. Drugs services for young people include work with those who use solvents.

  With effect from 1 April 2001, the Executive has made new resources available over a three-year period of some £13 million for drug treatment, £20 million for drug rehabilitation and £20 million for drugs work targeting children and young people. This new investment will ensure an expansion of treatment and rehabilitation, including services catering for solvent abusers.

E-Commerce

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive where the statistics and information which it and Scottish Enterprise publish which benchmark Scotland’s performance in adopting e-commerce against international competitors can be found, as referred to in section 2.9 of its Report on the Knowledge Economy Cross-Cutting Initiative .

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise has responsibility for commissioning research to benchmark Scotland’s e-business performance and the results of the latest survey can be found on:

  http://www.ecommerce-scotland.org/internationalbenchmarking/.

E-Commerce

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to create an E-Commerce Institute in Scotland since the publication of its Report on The Knowledge Economy Cross-Cutting Initiative .

Ms Wendy Alexander: The development of collaborative work to improve links between academia and industry in the field of e-commerce technologies is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise. Its e-commerce strategy includes references to this work and can be found in http://www.ecommerce-scotland.org . The Knowledge Economy Cross-Cutting Initiative Report mentioned that the Executive would provide £12 million to Scottish Enterprise to develop the e-institute approach to maximise the economic benefits of linking top class research and expertise at home and abroad. Scottish Enterprise announced on 7 February that £6 million of this had been allocated to developing links between University of Edinburgh and Stanford University in California.

E-Government

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21265 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 January 2002, how it plans to promote the e-Government Interoperability Framework across public bodies.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21249 on 17 January 2002. In addition to the information given there, the bidding guidance for the Modernising Government Fund (MGF) states that all MGF projects will be required to comply with the interoperability standards (including eGIF) before MGF funding is awarded.

Elections

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21264 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 January 2002, when e-voting will become an option for Scottish voters.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is possible that e-voting pilots will be available in 2003. However, this will depend on the final proposals being agreed with all relevant parties, including the Scottish Executive, local authorities and the Electoral Commission.

Employment

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to encourage businesses to provide more senior positions on a part-time and job-share basis.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Work-life balance, including encouraging the provision of part-time working and job sharing where appropriate, is a reserved issue. The Department of Trade and Industry launched the Work-Life Balance campaign, with an accompanying Challenge Fund, in March 2000.

  The campaign aims to persuade employers to introduce ways of working which meet the needs of the business and customers while simultaneously improving the work-life balance of their employees. It is directed at employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors and intended to benefit all employees whether or not they have caring responsibilities.

  The Challenge Fund provides free consultancy support for private, public and voluntary employers who want to introduce and develop innovative, flexible and diverse working patterns or practices for the benefit of the organisations, employees and customers. The Challenge Fund is supporting 14 projects in Scotland, and is currently inviting a further round of applications.

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scotland will receive of the £7.6 billion investment by Her Majesty’s Government on science, engineering and technology in 2003-04.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The total provisional expenditure referred to, which is shown in Table 2 of the Department of Trade and Industry’s publication  The Forward Look 2001 , includes budget figures for a variety of programmes, some of which apply only in England; some apply only in the Devolved Administrations; some apply across the whole of the UK. Within the total planned expenditure of £5.1 billion shown in this table on UK civil science, engineering and technology, it is estimated that over £0.5 billion will be spent in Scotland by the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the Department of Trade and Industry and the UK Research Councils. Figures are not available on how much of the £2.2 billion planned research and development expenditure by the Ministry of Defence will be spent in Scotland. The remaining £0.3 billion relates to UK contributions to EU research programmes.

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to stimulate the creation of a sustainable life sciences industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Sector-specific support and growth of biotechnology companies indigenous to Scotland and from outwith Scotland is taken forward by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International.

  The Scottish Enterprise Biotechnology Cluster team has implemented a £40 million biotechnology cluster action plan, Framework for Action, which was launched on 9 November 1999. Between 1999 and 2003 the plan aims to double employment in the sector, the number of biotechnology companies, and the number of support and supply companies. The action plan can be viewed at www.biotech-scotland.org.

  Since March 1999 the number of core biotechnology companies has grown at an average rate of 30% per annum, which compares well with the European average rate of 17% per annum over the same period. At September 2001, there were 428 organisations with 24,406 employees in the Scottish cluster, compared with 257 companies (12,729 jobs) at March 1999.

Enterprise

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make urgent contact with the management of Exabyte Corporation in the USA in order to try to persuade the corporation not to close its entire operation at Larbert in the interests of preventing over 100 job losses.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Officials have consistently maintained close and regular contact with Exabyte Corporation at both local level in Scotland and with corporate headquarters. At present, officials in the US are engaging directly with the Director of Exabyte Worldwide Services on a regular basis to discuss options for the future of the Larbert facility.

Enterprise

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the proposal by Exabyte Corporation to close its entire operation at Larbert in the interests of saving over 100 jobs.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Officials met with local management of Exabyte Corporation and Falkirk Council on 29 January 2002 to discuss options to maintain operations at the Larbert facility. Further meetings were held with local management, and with Exabyte management in the US, on 8 February 2002 to further explore these options.

  I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22646 on 15 February 2002, with regard to action currently being undertaken in the US with Exabyte Corporation Headquarters.

Enterprise

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance from public funds has been given in each year since 1990 to Exabyte Corporation in respect of locating and continuing its operations in Larbert.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Since 1990 Exabyte (Scotland) Ltd has received Regional Selective Assistance grant payments amounting in total to £730,000.

  In addition, since 1990, financial assistance from the Local Enterprise Company totals £118,710.14.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16175 by Angus MacKay on 20 June 2001, how many businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have now (a) applied for and (b) received hardship relief in relation to non-domestic rates, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of businesses in each local authority area, who were awarded hardship relief as at 30 November 2001, is shown in the following table. The information on the number of applications is not held centrally.

  


Council 
  

No. Cases 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

13 
  



Angus 
  

16 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

32 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

975 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

4 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

1 
  



East Lothian 
  

3 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

11 
  



Highland 
  

96 
  



Moray 
  

4 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

10 
  



Orkney 
  

7 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

24 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

632 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

9 
  



Stirling 
  

6 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

1 
  



West Lothian 
  

3 
  



Total 
  

1,847 
  



  Source: Returns from local authorities as at 30 November 2001.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much foot-and-mouth disease-related pyre ash material was transported from (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders for landfill at Garlaff in East Ayrshire.

Ross Finnie: In total some 4,828 tonnes of waste material, including pyre ash, soil and bottoming, was transported and buried at Garlaff landfill site. Three thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one tonnes were transported from the two continuous burning sites in Dumfries and Galloway and 1,107 tonnes from the site in the Scottish Borders.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of transportation and disposal of pyre ash from (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders.

Ross Finnie: The ash disposal was the subject of a contract between DEFRA and Barr Limited and the cost is a commercially confidential matter.

Further and Higher Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that all students emerging from college and university are familiar with and have the skills with which to feel confident about operating information and communications technologies.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22310 on 7 February 2002.

Health

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-16813 and S1W-19221 by Susan Deacon on 1 August and 16 November 2001, how many of the babies given intra-uterine transfusions lived longer than four weeks in each of the years from 1975 to 2000.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is shown in Table 1 for years 1980 to 1998.

  Information for 1975 to 1979 is not available centrally.

  Information for 1999 and 2000 is not available centrally at present.

  Table 1 Intrauterine transfusion – Scotland:

  Number of pregnancies involving procedures and number of births surviving over four weeks: 1980-1998

  


Year of Outcome1,2


Number of pregnancies involving at least 
  one
Intrauterine Transfusion3,4,5


Outcome5


Total births Surviving over four weeks 
  



Aborted6


Maternity7




1980 
  

5 
  

- 
  

5 
  

5 
  



1981 
  

4 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  



1982 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  



1983 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  



1984 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  



1985 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  



1986 
  

6 
  

2 
  

4 
  

4 
  



1987 
  

2 
  

- 
  

2 
  

2 
  



1988 
  

10 
  

1 
  

9 
  

7 
  



1989 
  

13 
  

1 
  

12 
  

11 
  



1990 
  

17 
  

2 
  

15 
  

12 
  



1991 
  

9 
  

- 
  

9 
  

8 
  



1992 
  

11 
  

- 
  

11 
  

11 
  



1993 
  

12 
  

- 
  

12 
  

10 
  



1994 
  

18 
  

- 
  

18 
  

16 
  



1995 
  

9 
  

- 
  

9 
  

7 
  



1996 
  

17 
  

- 
  

17 
  

15 
  



1997 
  

4 
  

- 
  

4 
  

3 
  



1998P


11 
  

- 
  

11 
  

9 
  



Total 
  

154 
  

9 
  

145 
  

125 
  



  P Provisional data.

  Source: Linked Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR)02, GRO Scotland, SBNND, SSBID database.

  Notes:

  1. Foetal medicine did not develop until the late 1980s, when ultrasound technology improved to an extent that foetal therapy became a reality. The first series of direct intravascular transfusions were not performed regularly in Scotland until 1988.

  2. Based on the year the pregnancy ended with either a maternity or an abortion. SMR02 data between 1980 and 1999 was analysed but follow up information for babies born in 1999 was incomplete. Therefore, 1999 data is not presented. Note that the previous PQ answer (S1W-19221) referred to the year the transfusion was performed, rather than the year of outcome which is shown here.

  3. The number of pregnancies involving intrauterine transfusions in each year. Based on Classification of Surgical Operations (OPCS):

  2nd Revision; 1976 (747)

  3rd Revision; 1977- 1988 (747)

  4th Revision; 1989-2000 (R01.1, R04.3)

  4. The information shown refers to the number of pregnancies where at least one intrauterine infusion was performed. In pregnancies where patients required the procedure, between three and four transfusions were performed on average per pregnancy. The answer to question S1W-19221 on 16 November 2001 gave numbers of transfusions performed, rather than the number of pregnancies which is shown here. Hence, the numbers shown in this answer are considerably lower than those shown previously.

  5. Outcome information (abortion or delivery) on the maternity record (SMR02) was missing for 10 pregnancies involving intrauterine infusion. In all but one of these cases the patients were not Scottish residents. These pregnancies are excluded from the analysis.

  6. Includes therapeutic abortions and miscarriages managed in hospital.

  7. Pregnancies resulting in a live or still birth.

Health

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date in 1975 the first death of a baby who had been given an intra-uterine transfusion occurred and where the death occurred.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally and would require a major piece of research at disproportionate cost for local agencies to provide the information requested.

Higher Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing financial penalties for any universities that do not attempt to widen access.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) is responsible for the allocation of funding to individual institutions. The council has not been asked to introduce financial penalties related to performance on widening access. SHEFC has decided to introduce a new condition of grant from 2002-03, which will link main funding for teaching and research to satisfactory progress on key policy objectives, which will include equality of opportunity and widening participation.

Higher Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish new targets for universities in respect of widening access.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive Annual Expenditure Report already includes a range of targets related to widening access which we are committed to delivering.

Hospitals

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to advise Greater Glasgow NHS board to carry out a survey of existing staff’s intentions to transfer from Stobhill Hospital to other board locations.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow.

  Where staff transfer proposals are made by NHS management, a Staff Governance Standard requires that staff are kept fully informed and are involved in any decision-making process that affects them.

  NHS employers are also required to consult with the trade unions, professional organisations and staff at the beginning of any discussions that might have a bearing on employment and staff security.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken between petition appearances and the serving of indictments was in each sheriffdom in each of the last ten years.

Colin Boyd QC: This information is not available for the period requested. The figures in the following tables cover the last four financial years and show, by reference to the percentage of cases, the time taken between appearance on petition and the service of the indictment in bail cases. In custody cases the indictment has to be served within 80 days of full committal on petition.

  


April 1997 - March 1998 
  

High Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

27% 
  

31% 
  

44% 
  

78% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

14% 
  

16% 
  

24% 
  

46% 
  

73% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

27% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  





















Dumbarton 
  

50% 
  

55% 
  

55% 
  

86% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

44% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

56% 
  

72% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

36% 
  

50% 
  

59% 
  

73% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

31% 
  

46% 
  

46% 
  

62% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Duns 
  





















Edinburgh 
  

22% 
  

27% 
  

39% 
  

51% 
  

69% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

44% 
  

56% 
  

56% 
  

56% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  





















Glasgow 
  

22% 
  

31% 
  

42% 
  

55% 
  

65% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

75% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

60% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

17% 
  

17% 
  

21% 
  

41% 
  

66% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

19% 
  

56% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  





















Kilmarnock 
  

17% 
  

31% 
  

33% 
  

44% 
  

61% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

56% 
  

65% 
  

71% 
  

76% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  





















Kirkwall 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  





















Linlithgow 
  

50% 
  

70% 
  

80% 
  

90% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  





















Paisley 
  

41% 
  

48% 
  

56% 
  

70% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

25% 
  

100% 
  



Perth 
  

9% 
  

9% 
  

26% 
  

48% 
  

74% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

63% 
  

63% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

32% 
  

37% 
  

42% 
  

58% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

56% 
  

78% 
  

78% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  





















Stranraer 
  





















Tain 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  





















  


April 1998 -March 1999 
  

High Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

24% 
  

34% 
  

49% 
  

64% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

18% 
  

29% 
  

35% 
  

65% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

0% 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

14% 
  

57% 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  





















Dumbarton 
  

29% 
  

47% 
  

53% 
  

59% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

29% 
  

35% 
  

45% 
  

52% 
  

58% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  





















Duns 
  





















Edinburgh 
  

19% 
  

20% 
  

25% 
  

32% 
  

64% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

36% 
  

36% 
  

55% 
  

82% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

8% 
  

23% 
  

31% 
  

46% 
  

54% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

11% 
  

22% 
  

29% 
  

47% 
  

65% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

45% 
  

45% 
  

45% 
  

55% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

23% 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

54% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

61% 
  

61% 
  

62% 
  

70% 
  

79% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

13% 
  

27% 
  

27% 
  

33% 
  

53% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

22% 
  

56% 
  

62% 
  

76% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

59% 
  

59% 
  

62% 
  

68% 
  

76% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

35% 
  

71% 
  

76% 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  





















Paisley 
  

37% 
  

41% 
  

52% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  





















Perth 
  

6% 
  

29% 
  

47% 
  

53% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

67% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  





















Stirling 
  

23% 
  

23% 
  

31% 
  

54% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  





















Stranraer 
  





















Tain 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  





















  


April 1999 - March 2000 
  

High Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

9% 
  

12% 
  

22% 
  

55% 
  

66% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

8% 
  

10% 
  

18% 
  

33% 
  

53% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

18% 
  

18% 
  

27% 
  

55% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

42% 
  

46% 
  

58% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  





















Dornoch 
  





















Dumbarton 
  

21% 
  

29% 
  

50% 
  

54% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

13% 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

63% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

33% 
  

57% 
  

57% 
  

57% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

6% 
  

11% 
  

17% 
  

50% 
  

72% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  





















Duns 
  





















Edinburgh 
  

21% 
  

24% 
  

33% 
  

49% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

15% 
  

15% 
  

31% 
  

38% 
  

62% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

25% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

16% 
  

19% 
  

24% 
  

41% 
  

61% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

21% 
  

21% 
  

21% 
  

32% 
  

58% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

40% 
  

40% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

21% 
  

22% 
  

34% 
  

47% 
  

64% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

6% 
  

25% 
  

38% 
  

75% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

16% 
  

23% 
  

34% 
  

49% 
  

66% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

27% 
  

27% 
  

36% 
  

50% 
  

59% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  





















Lanark 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

7% 
  

19% 
  

26% 
  

30% 
  

44% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

57% 
  

71% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

12% 
  

13% 
  

19% 
  

35% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  





















Perth 
  

32% 
  

39% 
  

50% 
  

68% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

63% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  

0% 
  

25% 
  

75% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

27% 
  

27% 
  

27% 
  

36% 
  

45% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

93% 
  

93% 
  

93% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  





















Stranraer 
  

10% 
  

10% 
  

10% 
  

10% 
  

30% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  





















  


April 2000 - March 2001 
  

High Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

0% 
  

6% 
  

28% 
  

53% 
  

81% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

9% 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

17% 
  

48% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

29% 
  

49% 
  

61% 
  

63% 
  

76% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  





















Campbeltown 
  





















Cupar 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  





















Dumbarton 
  

7% 
  

15% 
  

26% 
  

44% 
  

59% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

46% 
  

54% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

17% 
  

28% 
  

34% 
  

45% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

57% 
  

71% 
  

86% 
  

86% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  





















Duns 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Edinburgh 
  

23% 
  

28% 
  

43% 
  

59% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

26% 
  

32% 
  

47% 
  

63% 
  

68% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  





















Glasgow 
  

25% 
  

29% 
  

38% 
  

47% 
  

73% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

40% 
  

47% 
  

53% 
  

53% 
  

73% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

50% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

17% 
  

17% 
  

30% 
  

40% 
  

70% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

17% 
  

17% 
  

17% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  





















Kilmarnock 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

10% 
  

43% 
  

62% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

37% 
  

43% 
  

70% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  





















Lanark 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  





















Linlithgow 
  

22% 
  

28% 
  

34% 
  

59% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

9% 
  

9% 
  

24% 
  

52% 
  

70% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  





















Perth 
  

11% 
  

11% 
  

11% 
  

33% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

15% 
  

23% 
  

23% 
  

31% 
  

62% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

13% 
  

13% 
  

38% 
  

50% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  





















Stornoway 
  





















Stranraer 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  

0% 
  

25% 
  

50% 
  

75% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



  


April 1997 - March 1998 
  

Sheriff & Jury Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

62% 
  

76% 
  

82% 
  

91% 
  

97% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

18% 
  

24% 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

74% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

29% 
  

29% 
  

29% 
  

29% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

50% 
  

59% 
  

64% 
  

73% 
  

73% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

41% 
  

53% 
  

65% 
  

76% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

60% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

25% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Dumbarton 
  

42% 
  

72% 
  

77% 
  

86% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

57% 
  

65% 
  

71% 
  

80% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

34% 
  

48% 
  

59% 
  

74% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

43% 
  

52% 
  

61% 
  

65% 
  

78% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Duns 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Edinburgh 
  

18% 
  

25% 
  

33% 
  

42% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

56% 
  

61% 
  

67% 
  

72% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

37% 
  

41% 
  

56% 
  

78% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

63% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

30% 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

22% 
  

28% 
  

37% 
  

48% 
  

70% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

49% 
  

63% 
  

77% 
  

91% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

20% 
  

30% 
  

30% 
  

30% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

11% 
  

21% 
  

34% 
  

46% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

42% 
  

50% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

25% 
  

37% 
  

52% 
  

65% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

74% 
  

77% 
  

84% 
  

90% 
  

97% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

83% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

33% 
  

87% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

57% 
  

63% 
  

76% 
  

82% 
  

96% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

83% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

47% 
  

56% 
  

64% 
  

77% 
  

87% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

40% 
  

100% 
  



Perth 
  

19% 
  

23% 
  

48% 
  

63% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

42% 
  

46% 
  

48% 
  

52% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Selkirk 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

30% 
  

60% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

43% 
  

78% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stranraer 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

67% 
  

83% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  



  


April 1998- March 1999 
  

Sheriff & Jury Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

33% 
  

49% 
  

62% 
  

79% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

17% 
  

35% 
  

44% 
  

60% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

31% 
  

54% 
  

77% 
  

77% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

31% 
  

49% 
  

54% 
  

79% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

85% 
  

91% 
  

96% 
  

96% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

23% 
  

31% 
  

46% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

38% 
  

63% 
  

75% 
  

75% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dumbarton 
  

51% 
  

66% 
  

84% 
  

88% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

55% 
  

68% 
  

74% 
  

81% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

33% 
  

50% 
  

57% 
  

70% 
  

87% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

28% 
  

37% 
  

47% 
  

56% 
  

72% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Duns 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Edinburgh 
  

19% 
  

23% 
  

30% 
  

38% 
  

59% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

29% 
  

32% 
  

32% 
  

46% 
  

61% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

23% 
  

45% 
  

68% 
  

89% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

50% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

16% 
  

28% 
  

44% 
  

65% 
  

76% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

61% 
  

69% 
  

81% 
  

86% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

0% 
  

17% 
  

33% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

19% 
  

26% 
  

53% 
  

66% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

22% 
  

56% 
  

78% 
  

91% 
  

97% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

82% 
  

91% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

30% 
  

53% 
  

61% 
  

75% 
  

96% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

72% 
  

72% 
  

78% 
  

81% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

11% 
  

33% 
  

39% 
  

61% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

21% 
  

54% 
  

71% 
  

77% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

43% 
  

53% 
  

62% 
  

76% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

75% 
  

75% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



Perth 
  

16% 
  

47% 
  

63% 
  

75% 
  

84% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

27% 
  

41% 
  

41% 
  

50% 
  

73% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  

50% 
  

64% 
  

86% 
  

86% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

18% 
  

32% 
  

61% 
  

76% 
  

87% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stranraer 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  

0% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



  


April 1999- March 2000 
  

Sheriff & Jury Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

37% 
  

47% 
  

61% 
  

75% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

21% 
  

30% 
  

41% 
  

56% 
  

79% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

30% 
  

43% 
  

63% 
  

80% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

68% 
  

76% 
  

97% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

85% 
  

90% 
  

92% 
  

98% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

33% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  





















Cupar 
  

55% 
  

80% 
  

85% 
  

85% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

83% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  





















Dumbarton 
  

72% 
  

85% 
  

94% 
  

99% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

63% 
  

71% 
  

86% 
  

94% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

34% 
  

45% 
  

51% 
  

64% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

57% 
  

64% 
  

77% 
  

82% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  





















Duns 
  

86% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Edinburgh 
  

15% 
  

24% 
  

55% 
  

76% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

23% 
  

35% 
  

42% 
  

52% 
  

65% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

47% 
  

69% 
  

83% 
  

88% 
  

95% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

52% 
  

61% 
  

74% 
  

87% 
  

96% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

60% 
  

73% 
  

80% 
  

87% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

14% 
  

18% 
  

27% 
  

45% 
  

76% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

40% 
  

55% 
  

74% 
  

88% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

8% 
  

8% 
  

17% 
  

17% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

26% 
  

32% 
  

54% 
  

63% 
  

77% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

81% 
  

90% 
  

95% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

35% 
  

45% 
  

58% 
  

82% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

80% 
  

82% 
  

84% 
  

87% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

56% 
  

56% 
  

83% 
  

83% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

30% 
  

43% 
  

54% 
  

64% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

47% 
  

51% 
  

61% 
  

73% 
  

82% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  

33% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Perth 
  

46% 
  

52% 
  

52% 
  

59% 
  

65% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

33% 
  

43% 
  

50% 
  

73% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Selkirk 
  

57% 
  

57% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

48% 
  

52% 
  

59% 
  

69% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stranraer 
  

22% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

44% 
  

67% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

25% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  



  


April 2000- March 2001 
  

Sheriff & Jury Court: Percentage served 
  



by 6 months 
  

by 7 months 
  

by 8 months 
  

by 9 months 
  

by 10 months 
  

10+ months 
  



Aberdeen 
  

49% 
  

57% 
  

73% 
  

84% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  



Airdrie 
  

44% 
  

52% 
  

56% 
  

64% 
  

74% 
  

100% 
  



Alloa 
  

59% 
  

68% 
  

77% 
  

82% 
  

95% 
  

100% 
  



Arbroath 
  

48% 
  

61% 
  

74% 
  

78% 
  

87% 
  

100% 
  



Ayr 
  

89% 
  

94% 
  

95% 
  

95% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Banff 
  

25% 
  

50% 
  

75% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Campbeltown 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Cupar 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dingwall 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

50% 
  

50% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dornoch 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

40% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Dumbarton 
  

42% 
  

55% 
  

75% 
  

94% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Dumfries 
  

69% 
  

73% 
  

78% 
  

89% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Dundee 
  

14% 
  

26% 
  

51% 
  

78% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Dunfermline 
  

78% 
  

86% 
  

89% 
  

97% 
  

97% 
  

100% 
  



Dunoon 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Duns 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Edinburgh 
  

13% 
  

22% 
  

79% 
  

93% 
  

96% 
  

100% 
  



Elgin 
  

52% 
  

67% 
  

79% 
  

82% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Falkirk 
  

53% 
  

69% 
  

82% 
  

89% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Forfar 
  

58% 
  

67% 
  

71% 
  

75% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  



Fort William 
  

15% 
  

15% 
  

38% 
  

77% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  



Glasgow 
  

29% 
  

35% 
  

45% 
  

68% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Greenock 
  

30% 
  

44% 
  

71% 
  

95% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Haddington 
  

57% 
  

71% 
  

76% 
  

81% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Hamilton 
  

26% 
  

34% 
  

74% 
  

82% 
  

90% 
  

100% 
  



Inverness 
  

59% 
  

78% 
  

85% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Jedburgh 
  

56% 
  

67% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

31% 
  

35% 
  

46% 
  

74% 
  

94% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

51% 
  

56% 
  

65% 
  

72% 
  

81% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

29% 
  

71% 
  

71% 
  

86% 
  

86% 
  

100% 
  



Kirkwall 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Lanark 
  

47% 
  

53% 
  

93% 
  

93% 
  

93% 
  

100% 
  



Lerwick 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

33% 
  

44% 
  

89% 
  

100% 
  



Linlithgow 
  

46% 
  

59% 
  

75% 
  

92% 
  

98% 
  

100% 
  



Lochmaddy 
  





















Oban 
  

58% 
  

75% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Paisley 
  

28% 
  

40% 
  

56% 
  

77% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  



Peebles 
  

40% 
  

40% 
  

60% 
  

80% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Perth 
  

34% 
  

41% 
  

47% 
  

50% 
  

69% 
  

100% 
  



Peterhead 
  

18% 
  

18% 
  

41% 
  

55% 
  

91% 
  

100% 
  



Portree 
  





















Rothesay 
  





















Selkirk 
  

38% 
  

38% 
  

63% 
  

88% 
  

88% 
  

100% 
  



Stirling 
  

46% 
  

51% 
  

65% 
  

89% 
  

95% 
  

100% 
  



Stonehaven 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stornoway 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Stranraer 
  

26% 
  

37% 
  

47% 
  

58% 
  

79% 
  

100% 
  



Tain 
  

17% 
  

33% 
  

75% 
  

92% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



Wick

Local Government

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Commission for Local Administration in Scotland has in respect of community councils.

Peter Peacock: The Commission for Local Administration in Scotland has no powers over community councils.

Ministry of Defence

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21692 by Dr Richard Simpson on 24 January 2002, whether the current establishment of civil search and rescue capability at HMS Gannet will be retained and remain unaffected by the Ministry of Defence’s plans.

Dr Richard Simpson: I understand that the search and rescue capabilities at Prestwick will remain unchanged when HMS Gannet otherwise closes at the end of March. However, the precise details are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Burns Cottage Museum has participated in the national audit of museums by the Scottish Museums Council.

Dr Elaine Murray: Yes. I understand that the Scottish Museums Council, who are responsible for undertaking the National Audit, have received a completed questionnaire from the Burns National Heritage Park.

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the collection of Robert Burns’ mementoes and artefacts displayed and stored at the Burns Cottage Museum will be conserved, displayed and archived to the highest standards.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive is responsible for National Museums and Galleries whereas the responsibility for non-national museums, including the Burns Cottage Museum and its collections, is the responsibility of local agencies. The Burns National Heritage Park was formed in 1995 drawing together Burns assets in Alloway including local authority assets. The park is under a joint management board of the local authority, Burns Monument Trust and the local enterprise company. I understand that the management board sent some of the items from the collection at the Burns Museum for storage to the National Library of Scotland.

  I understand that the Burns National Heritage Park are working on plans to develop the park further, centred on the museum.

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it will make to the proposed redevelopment project for the Burns Cottage Museum.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Executive recognises the important role that the Burns Cottage Museum plays in its local area. I recognise the significant investment by South Ayrshire Council in the park and I welcome their continued interest in its future along with the other partners overseeing the park’s Development Plan. None of the partners has presented to the Executive any request for support. While I would be happy to consider any such request it would be against the background that as a non-national museum the Burns Cottage Museum is not the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies are given in order to carry out their official duties.

Mr Andy Kerr: Assessors must attend a one-day induction programme which focuses on their roles and responsibilities. The Commissioner for Public Appointments, who also attends each event, agrees the content of these training days. Where possible, assessors are also encouraged to shadow an existing assessor before participating in an appointments round.

  In addition, if any assessor requires specific training in any aspect of their role this is also provided.

Organ Retention

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has given to the Scottish Organisation on the Removal and Retention of Organs (SORRO).

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Organisation on the Removal and Retention of Organs   (SORRO), which acts as an independent support group for parents distressed by past practice in relation to organ retention at post-mortem, is a self-financing organisation. The Executive has paid some minor expenses incurred by SORRO in helping to draw to a line under the consequences of past post-mortem practice.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) which questions it answered substantively by referring to the response it provided to inspired question S1W-20533 lodged on its behalf by Des McNulty and answered by Lewis Macdonald on 29 November 2001, (b) how much the processing of each question answered in this manner cost in total and (c) what its reasons were for answering each individual question in this manner.

Lewis Macdonald: (a) This information is not available in the format requested. However, all answers to parliamentary questions are published on the Parliament’s website.

  (b) The information requested is not held centrally.

  (c) It is standard practice to refer a member to a previous answer given to a parliamentary question if this reply provides the appropriate information.

Public Bodies

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total spending of all public bodies for which it was responsible for was in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the table.

  


Year 
  

Total Gross Expenditure 
  



1999-2000 
  

7,814,909,000 
  



2000-01 
  

8,830,940,000 
  



  Expenditure figures for the current financial year 2001-02 are not yet available.

  The above figures cover all public bodies with budgetary responsibilities including, Executive non-departmental public bodies, nationalised Industries, public corporations and National Health Service Bodies in Scotland.

  The data provided has been extracted from the annual publication Public Bodies which is available from the Cabinet Office website at:

  www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango/index/pubs.htm.

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a start date for the Edinburgh Airport rail link as announced in the strategic plan of the Strategic Rail Authority and how the link will be funded.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22082 and S1W-22083 on 4 February 2002.

Rail Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new train crew depot at Dumfries as announced in the strategic plan of the Strategic Rail Authority is due for completion.

Lewis Macdonald: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. I understand, however, that this depot began operation in August 2001, and is expected to become fully operational in the course of this year.

Rail Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will describe the improved operational flexibility for trains at Dumfries and Dunblane as announced in the strategic plan of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Lewis Macdonald: These are operational matters for the rail industry. I understand, however, that the improvements to operational flexibility for trains at both Dumfries and Dunblane are intended to reduce train turn-around times.

Railway Safety

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the plans to tackle trespass and vandalism on railways as announced in the strategic plan of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Lewis Macdonald: Railway safety is a reserved matter. This includes issues surrounding trespass and vandalism. It is for the Health and Safety Executive, in conjunction with the Strategic Rail Authority, to set out plans to tackle trespass and vandalism.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to discourage speeding.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is liaising closely with the UK Government on the implementation of the speed policy proposals in the GB road safety strategy Tomorrow’s Roads – Safer for Everyone , copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 5711).

  The Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the development of key road safety education initiatives and publicity messages. The campaign’s "Foolsspeed" campaign aims to change driver attitudes to speed and speed choice. The campaign also arranges publicity to complement police enforcement campaigns focussing on a number of road safety issues, including speeding.

  The Executive has made it easier for local authorities to set 20 mph speed limits. Revised guidance, issued in August, provides advice on 20 mph zones, in which engineering measures ensure that the zones are self-enforcing; on mandatory 20 mph speed limits, with or without engineering measures; and on advisory 20 mph speed limits.

  The Executive is working with the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland on the implementation of pilot part-time speed limits outside selected schools in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Edinburgh, Glasgow and West Lothian. 20 mph speed limits will apply outside the schools at times when children are arriving and leaving.

  On the trunk road network the Executive encourages compliance with speed limits by installing traffic calming measures which include speed cameras at locations where excessive speed is known to cause or contribute to the severity of accidents. Signs which are triggered by speeds over a particular threshold are to be trialled on the A9. The signs will say "Slow Down" and indicate the 60 mph speed limit.

Road Safety

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces take into account the possibility of an inaccurate speedometer in the speeding car when issuing tickets for speeding offences and whether the Executive or police forces have undertaken any research into the effects that inaccurate speedometers in cars may have on the incidence of speeding.

Mr Jim Wallace: Police forces issue fixed penalties or make reports to the Procurator Fiscal on the basis of corroborated evidence of the speed of vehicles. It would be for the defence to introduce any evidence of a faulty speedometer as a defence or mitigation.

Roads

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on the dualling of the A1 north and south of the border and what the proposed timescale is for any such work.

Lewis Macdonald: The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which has responsibility for the A1 south of the border, is currently carrying out a multi-modal study of the route between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Newcastle. The Scottish Executive is represented on the study’s steering group.

  In Scotland, the Executive is committed to delivering four major improvement schemes on the route, including the Haddington to Dunbar Expressway. Together, these projects will provide an additional 18.8 km of dual carriageway, at a total cost of some £50 million.

Tourism

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contributions it has made since May 1999 to, or in support of, Burns-related cultural events and tourist promotions.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contributions it plans to make from now until May 2003 to, or in support of, Burns related cultural events and tourist promotions.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Executive has allocated £100,000 to support the Burns Festival being developed by Ayrshire and Arran Tourist board. £45,000 has also been given to North Ayrshire Council to support the development of a children's opera on Burns, in conjunction with Scottish Opera for All. A further £100,000 has also been made available to the Scottish Arts Council in this and each of the next two financial years to support projects with a Burns theme in areas of social deprivation. VisitScotland is also currently in discussion with the Robert Burns World Federation to develop a Burns trail.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the estimated cost is of the landscaping works for the Holyrood Project; whether this contract was put out to tender; whether less expensive plans for landscaping were considered and, if so, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will detail the costs and plans for any such less expensive options.

Sir David Steel: The estimated cost of the landscaping works must remain commercial-in-confidence at this stage since the tender documents for the works are not due to be issued until the end of February. I am informed by the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that, since the landscape scheme needs to be conceptually consistent with the building in terms of planning for the Holyrood site as a whole, the plans have not changed significantly since those first made public in 1999. The overall cost of the landscaping is unchanged from that made public in September 2000 and is based upon more detailed plans approved by the City of Edinburgh Planning Department in September 2001.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-22106 by Sir David Steel on 4 February 2002, who the contractor is who has been appointed to supply and install the bay window element of the MSP building at the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Sir David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that Baydale Architectural Systems Ltd is the contractor appointed to supply and install the bay window element of the MSP building.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of the specification of the windows to be fitted in the new Parliament building at Holyrood and whether any independent testing such as accelerated weathering testing will be carried out prior to work proceeding on their installation.

Sir David Steel: Legal advice has indicated that the documents requested may form part of the productions in any litigation that may follow and therefore cannot be made available at this time. All suppliers have a duty to satisfy the client that their product is fit for purpose and the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that weather testing will be carried out by the appointed contractor and the results made available thereafter.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to his answer to question S1W-22107 on 4 February 2002, whether Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd provided all of the design services which they were under contractual obligation to provide.

Sir David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress that Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd had not completed all of the design services required under contract prior to the company’s insolvency.